Welcome
to the first annual Metroland Bar Guide. The list below
was compiled by editorial staff from a variety of sources,
including forms returned by the establishments themselves;
any sentence or phrase surrounded by quote marks is the exact
wording from the form. We have divided the region into 21
geographic areas and the arranged the entries alphabetically
within those categories (see Contents, page 4). If your bar
is not listed here, and you would like to be included in future
editions and our online edition, please fill out the Bar Guide
Form on page 31 and send to: Metroland Bar Guide, Metroland,
419 Madison Ave., Albany, NY 12210.

Institution
#1

The Ginger Man

234
Western Ave., Albany

Year established: 1983

Ambiance: cozy, classy

If the Ginger Man were a painting, it would be Edouard Manet,
A Bar at the Folies-Bergère

When
Michael and Pat Byron purchased the building known today as
the Ginger Man, they did so with the idea of becoming the
first wine bar in the Capital Region. Today, the family-owned
and family-operated establishment offers more than 50 wines
by the glass and double that number by the bottle. “With varying
price ranges, we can accommodate the simplest to the most
sophisticated palette,” says manager Julie Byron, the daughter
of Michael and Pat.

In addition to the extensive wine list, The Ginger Man offers
18 beers on tap—five of which are seasonal feature beers—as
well as a selection of scotches and bourbon. Not sure what
you fancy? The bartender will be happy to serve you up a flight—three,
three-ounce samples—of wines, single-malt scotches, small-batch
bourbons or beer. “We really do try and focus on education
and expanding your knowledge and your pallet,” Byron says.
“It doesn’t have to be snobby. It can be fun, and it can be
informative.”

The building itself dates back to the 1800s, when Albanians
would come to what was then the Horton Heating Company in
horse-drawn buggies to purchase coal. After the Byrons purchased
the structure, it was renovated and expanded to keep the historical
character intact. Today, the Ginger Man welcomes a regular
crowd of professors, legislators and state workers, and also
sees a lot of couples on their first date, Byron says.

Institution
#2

Tess’ Lark Tavern

453
Madison Ave., Albany

Year
established: 1933

Ambiance: Traditional pub with flair

If the Lark were a song, it would be “The Theme From Cheers”

It
was end of a dark time in U.S. history in 1933—Prohibition.
For 13 years, honest, god-fearing Americans had been forced
to buy rotgut liquor of questionable provenance from unscrupulous
characters. There was no sense of community. When beer, wine
and spirits became legal to produce and sell again, the Lark
Tavern was born—and a sense of neighborhood and community
was restored.

Since Tess Collins took over the Lark a few years ago, she’s
managed the delicate trick of keeping the down-to-earth neighborhood
atmosphere while bringing in things both new and funky. There
are the popular events like the monthly Brew Ha-Ha comedy
shows, saucy Lipstick Lovelies revues, and fashion shows.
The Lark’s musical horizons have expanded, too, with hip-hop,
big band and rock shows—not to mention the popular Wednesday
open mic, and the singer-songwriter competitions. With frequent
performance tie-ins to local events like 1st Fridays and the
annual Lark Fest, Collins has ensured that the Lark Tavern
remains at the center of things.

Institution
#3

Desperate Annie’s

12
Caroline St., Saratoga Springs

Year established: 1976

Ambiance: Wood-paneled rec room

If it were an episode of The Simpsons, it would be
“Flaming Moes”

“Last
night, went out with my friends/Tonight I’ll do it again/Desperate
Annie’s is waiting there for me,” sang Saratoga Springs band
Dryer in their ode to this unpretentious Caroline Street watering
hole, known affectionately as “D.A.s” to the regulars. If
you live in Saratoga Springs, chances are you’ve spent inordinate
amounts of time here among the wooden booths, the pool table,
the Simpsons pinball machine, the longtime bartenders Rock
and John, and the motley assortment of locals and Skidmore
students who fill the place. The jukebox, which owner Travis
calls the “the best damned jukebox in the state,” plays everything
from the MC5 and the Shins to the Figgs and the Kamikaze Hearts.

Desperate Annie’s inspires great loyalty among its customers,
whose vacation postcards line the ceiling above the bar. That
loyalty is reciprocated through non-gouging drink prices,
friendly staff and a legendary New Year’s Eve party for regular
patrons and friends. “We go out of our way to make people
feel safe and welcome, which fosters a very family-like atmosphere,”
says Travis (he goes by just “Travis”), who took over the
bar in 1993 and is a regular fixture. “Yes it’s a business,
but there’s more than just a monetary investment. It’s also
my life as well as the livelihoods of my employees, and it’s
where we live and make our friends.”

Institution
#4

The Parting Glass

Address:
40-42 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Year established: 1981

Ambiance: All Irish, all the time

If the Parting Glass were a dance, it would be the Irish jig

Every
town needs an Irish pub, it seems: an oasis of Guinness taps,
Celtic decorations, fiddle players in kilts, and green beer
on St. Patty’s Day. Saratoga Springs is no exception. Founded
on St. Patrick’s Day 26 years ago by the Diblasio family,
the Parting Glass is one of the oldest continuously run bars
in the city. A family vibe predominates: It’s a place where
you can take your kids for pub food, play games of English
darts and hear traditional Irish and American folk music,
including local favorites the McKrells. The beer, of course,
is for the adults, who can choose from an assortment of 40
beers on tap and another 60 domestics and imports in bottles.

Not much has changed over the years, says Linda Diblasio,
who started working at the family business when she was just
18. “I never thought we’d still be here after 26 years, but
I hope we’ll still be here 25 years from now.”

Institution
#5

The Ale House

680
River St., Troy

Year established: 1970

Ambiance: casual, neighborly

If the Ale House were a song, it would be Elvis Presley’s
“A Big Hunk o’ Love”

The
beauty of this Troy institution is that on any given night,
when you walk through that front door, you know exactly what
you are going to get: breezy, attentive service; delicious,
rib-sticking grub; and friendly, easygoing drinking companions.

Brian Gilchrist has been running Ale House since 1990, after
working there off-and-on for about 10 years. “I got to a point
where I had to decide if I was in or I was out,” he says.

So he bought the bar.

Ale House has a way of making new friends, and keeping old
ones close. Gilchrist says he has regulars that have been
around for decades.

“It’s
a pretty diverse crowd,” he says. “We have regulars who are
here several times a week and never cross paths.”

It’s that diversity that keeps the regulars coming back. One
night, you’re rubbing elbows with RPI students and profs in
the crowded bar. Another, you’re singing along with blue-collar
rockabilly in the backroom nuzzled next to a Hell’s Angel
or two.

And the bartenders are no slouches—Booie got Metroland’s
Best Bartender nod last year.

Institution
#6

Waterworks Pub

76
Central Ave., Albany

Year established: 1983

Ambiance: Fabulous!

If Waterworks were a song, it would be “It’s Raining Men”

If
you ask your gay friends what the gayest gay bar in Albany
is, the answer will likely be Waterworks. For more than two
decades, Waterworks has been an unwavering support to the
gay and lesbian community. The huge dance floor, patio and
downstairs bar provide plenty of room to commiserate. A consistently
entertaining schedule of events, live music and entertainers
has contributed to why Metroland has repeatedly bestowed the
coveted Best Gay Bar title to the establishment. Gay, straight,
bi, or even heteroflexible—if you haven’t experienced Waterworks,
we suggest you give it a go. Trust us: A romp across the dance
floor is an adventure in itself.

Institution
#7

The Silver Slipper

97
Henry Johnson Blvd., Albany

Year established: 1980

Ambiance: unpretentious and welcoming

If the Silver Slipper were a song, it would be Eddie Kendricks’
“Keep on Truckin’ ”

An
unassuming but attractive building on Henry Johnson Boulevard
houses one of Arbor Hill’s quaint gems, the Silver Slipper.
The inside of the bar isn’t quite as whimsical as its name
might suggest, and that’s a good thing. It’s a tidy, broken-in
type of place—a corner-situated spot that has seen it all
and keeps on truckin’. This is the kind of place where if
the walls could talk, they’d have your ear for days. On a
typical evening you can find the owner, Phil, behind the bar,
ready to serve you with a kind smile and a gentle manner.
The regulars are likely to chat you up and invite you into
their intimate haunt as if you were one of the family, and
the jukebox supplies the background music—mostly new and old
R&B. It’s comfy, cozy, and, in an odd way, soothing. This
landmark neighborhood bar just celebrated its 27th birthday
on Saturday (April 7), and here’s hoping for at least 27 more
healthy, happy years.

Institution
#8

Iffy’s Place

234
Washington Ave., Albany

Year established: Wouldn’t you like to know?

Ambiance: downtrodden, gritty

If Iffy’s were a song, it would be “Waiting For the Man” by
Velvet Underground

Iffy’s
is a drinking-persons bar. No frills attached, except for
the pool table, a couple of TVs and a dart board. The patrons
at Iffy’s tend to proudly remind strangers that their bar
is featured on sleazybars.com. They also like to offer their
bar as a place you can always come when you are feeling down,
because someone in the bar will always be worse off than you.
The truth is, Iffy’s provides a safe haven for those who want
to spend more time talking to themselves than they do the
opposite sex. Iffy’s itself is a survivor, as its original
location was demolished to make room for parking. If you want
to drink at a bar that will put hair on your chest, Iffy’s
is an Albany institution you cannot afford to miss.

Institution
#9

Pauly’s Hotel

337
Central Ave., Albany

Year established: 1889

Ambiance: timeless

If Pauly’s Hotel were a book (in 1907), it would be John Dos
Passos, The 42nd Parallel.

If
you walked into Pauly’s Hotel just once in your life and walked
out again 10 minutes later, you would have no idea what a
rich history has unfolded within these walls over the last,
oh, 118 years—or even how vastly different the saloon is today
on a Monday afternoon as opposed to a Friday night.

On a recent Thursday evening when several area colleges were
on Spring Break, the only customers seated at the long Pauly’s
bar were three men who have been of legal drinking age for
at least 35 years. With the spacious room virtually empty,
it was easy to look around and take in the various details:
lots of original woodwork, especially around the bar, which
is well-preserved and beautiful in a big-mirrored, old-timey
way. The intricately detailed red ceiling, too, apparently
is original. But much of the room looks old and faded, and
only the ghosts of once-up-and-coming bands and cooks frying
up food haunt the deserted back area.

Close your eyes, enter the time machine, open again—now it’s
a Friday night with college in session, and you can barely
get from the door to the bar through the sea of drunken young
bodies. To some, this is hook-up heaven; to others, it’s heave-up
hell, like the Internet poster who decried the “drunk morons
from St. Rose and SUNY.”

Enter the time machine again, and go back to the ’80s: The
room is full of Albany hipsters swaying to live music from
local and national acts du jour. A few of the details are
different, like the bowling game and the chicken wings, but
the place is otherwise the same.

Once more into the time machine, into the ’90s, where we see
gentlemen in sack coats, ascots and handlebar moustaches slugging
back ale, debating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and listening
to . . . Nirvana? No, try Scott Joplin, stupid. We’re in the
1890s. Back where it all began.

79
N. Pearl St., Albany, 462-9033, bayoucafe.com. Full bar with
a full line of microbrews, 32 beers on tap and at least 30
types of bottled beer. The menu features Mexican, Southwestern,
and Cajun goodies.

276
Second Ave., Albany, 462-0571. “A comfortable, friendly traditional
Irish neighborhood tavern offering great food, drink and an
eclectic mix of the best in live music.” Live music, DJs.
Pub food served until 3 PM Sun-Thu, and until 11 PM Fri-Sat.

56
Church St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-8800, bistrozinc.com.
Upscale restaurant and bar catering to locals and tourists;
spacious room in the back with authentic zinc bar and red
leather banquettes often attracts a bar crowd well past dinner.
Wide selection of single-malt scotches, rums and wines by
the glass. Bistro menu available in the bar until 10 PM.

County
Road, Becket, Mass., (413) 623-8725. If you can find it, there’s
no place quite like it on the planet, especially when the
high season clicks in after Memorial Day. Live music, eclectic
clientele, rich history, surreal good times.

Firefly

71
Church St., Lenox, Mass., (413) 637-2700. An eclectic crowd
frequents this establishment, decorated in wood and warm colors
with a beautiful mahogany bar. Live music. Restaurant menu
features creative American cuisine with Asian and Spanish
accents; this and the lighter tapas menu are served in the
bar until 9 PM, 10 or 11 in summer.

26
Bank Row, Pittsfield, Mass., (413) 499-1994. Warm, casual
pub with lots of exposed brick and archways attracts a mix
of young and old, families and singles, locals and tourists.
Live music. American fare served until 11:30 PM weeknights,
12:30 AM weekends.

20
Railroad St.

20
Railroad St., Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-9345. The
motto—“food, spirits, conversation”—pretty much captures the
vibe of this laid-back bar-restaurant where locals have been
gathering since before Great Barrington got hot. American
pub menu served till 10 weekdays, 11 on weekends.

Union
Bar & Grill

293
Main St., Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-6228. An upscale
crowd gathers in this Soho-inspired bar-restaurant with loft-like
design and plenty of steel and aluminum. Contemporary American
menu served until 11 PM (closed Wednesday).

Colonie/Wolf
Road

Barnsider

480
Sand Creek Road, Colonie, 869-2448. The menu, specializing
in steaks and seafood, is available until 10:30 PM.

36
Main St., Chatham, 392-2337. Welsh-inspired pub, handsomely
refinished with dark-stained wood and full of eccentric decorative
touches such as broadswords, taxidermied animals and helmets
from ancient warriors. The 15 or so beers on tap range from
local to international. Live music, designated upstairs smoking
area. Pub food served until 9 or 10 PM. Cash only (ATM inside).

Latham
Circle Mall, 786-MALT. Spacious restaurant and bar offering
more than 50 draft and bottled beers from around the world.
Live music, pool table, darts. Acclaimed American menu available
until 10 PM.

Nite
Moves

677
New Loudon Road, Latham, 785-7739. Adult nightclub with more
than 60 exotic dancers on staff. Music by DJs.

Philly
Bar & Grill

622
Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, 785-9559. Bar-restaurant featuring
“authentic” Philly cheesesteaks (the owner, Rocky, is from
Philadelphia), as well as live music, DJs, karaoke and darts.
American menu served until 11 PM.

Santino’s

183
Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, 220-9900. “Straight-up or on
the rocks, Santino’s always comes out on top.” Live music,
DJs, karaoke. Italian-American menu served until 1 AM.

40
Lincoln Ave., Watervliet, 273-9892. “A five-star establishment
under the same ownership for over 40 years, with all the legal
vices which include OTB and topless girls.” Pub food. Pool,
golf game, trivia machine, darts, lotto. Karaoke nights. Food
served until closing.

1208
Route 146, North Country Commons, Clifton Park, 371-0015.
“The area’s premiere night club featuring the biggest and
best club shows in the region.” Live music, pub food. Darts,
pool, MegaTouch and more.

Park
54

54
Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park. 688-1548, park54restaurant.com.
An extensive wine selection, top-shelf liquor and a variety
of beers. Restaurant serves seafood, steaks, lamb and duck.
Check the Web site for special events.

Publik
House Pub and Restaurant

Routes
9 and 9P, Malta, 587-5981. Full bar at this popular pizza
and pasta restaurant. Full menu until 11 PM.

Ravenswood
Pub

1021
Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-8771, ravenswoodpub.com. Full
bar at this American fare restaurant. Serving food until midnight
on Friday and Saturday.

Salty’s
Pub & Bistro

Country
Dollar Shopping Plaza, Guideboard Road, Halfmoon, 371-1120,
371-1694. Full bar in this neighborhood bistro known for its
seafood.

Spa
Brauhaus

200
E. High St., Ballston Spa, 885-4311, spabrauhaus.com. A variety
of light and dark German beers are available at this German
eatery’s full bar.

TGI
Friday’s

1
Southside Drive, Clifton Park, 383-7148. Full bar at this
well-known chain restaurant featuring American fare. Bar open
until midnight.

237
Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 583-3333. Right across from
the track, with racing-related memorabilia crowding the walls
and an Italian-inspired menu. Serving food Sun-Wed until 9,
Thu-Sat until 10.

423
Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 584-0957, greygelding.com Extensive
wine list with emphasis on small vineyards from around the
world. Serving food Fri-Sat until midnight and during Monday
Night Football.

507
Saratoga Road/Route 50, Glenville, 384-7226, bayoucafe.com.
Full bar with a full line of microbrews, 32 beers on tap and
at least 30 types of bottled beer. The menu features Mexican,
Southwestern, and Cajun goodies.

402
Union St., Schenectady, 372-2590, nightskycafe.com. “A WiFi
equipped bistro with an appreciation of music and an enjoyment
of good food, good drink and good company.” Light fare served
until midnight.

517
Union St., Schenectady, 382-9264. One of the oldest neighborhood
bars in Schenectady, featuring live music, other events, and
an outdoor patio. Pool, darts. Pub food served until midnight.
Cash only.

Troy

Ale House

680
River St., Troy, 272-9740. Voted Best Pub Fare by Metroland.
Homemade soups, burgers, and daily specials served until
midnight, with rock bands on the weekends. Dart board. Cash
only.

Brown’s
Brewing Company

425
River St., Troy, 273-beer (2337), brownsbrewing.com. “This
Troy landmark is the Capital District’s original craft brewery
and restaurant, specializing in homemade beer infused with
multi-American faire located in a carefully restored 19th
century factory on the mighty Hudson River front.” Darts,
pool table, and foosball, with food served until 11 PM Mon-Thu,
midnight Fri-Sat, and 10 PM Sun.

405
River St., Troy, 273-2196, josemalones.com. A Mexican Irish
restaurant with more than 45 100-percent Agave Tequilas. Margaritas
made from fresh-squeezed limes, never any sour mix, and a
variety of Scotches and hard-to-find beers. Dinner served
until 10 PM.